Livestock identification delayed by the EU

The electronic identification of sheep and goats has been put back by the European Union (EU.

A decision has been made by the EU Council of Ministers that member states will now have until the end of 2009 to introduce e-IDs for livestock. This has been changed from the original deadline of the beginning of 2008 due to concerns over costs and the practicalities of implementing the system in time.

Animal welfare minister Jeff Rooker said: "Whilst I am aware that the industry needs to make significant changes in order to implement these proposals, securing a delay until 31 December 2009 for implementation is a significant achievement and will give our industry two years longer than was originally agreed to adjust to the introduction of e-ID.